Ford is a 6’3” 284-lb. junior offensive lineman who rotated in at center in several games this year for the Gamecocks and played guard in the Capitol One Bowl against Nebraska.

Ford is a 2009 graduate of Lake View High School where he graduated as valedictorian. He played football and baseball and earned all-state honors and letters in both. He is majoring in Biology at USC.

He is the son of Andy and Becky Ford of Fork.

The 2011 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll is based on grades from the 2011 Spring, Summer, and Fall terms. A total of 534 student-athletes were named to the 2011 Academic Honor Roll.

The Gamecocks had 66 student-athletes named to the list, the most of any school in the Southeastern Conference. It was the sixth-straight fall that USC has topped the list. Alabama had 56 students on the list, and Georgia ranked third with 51.

In order to be eligible for the Academic Honor Roll, student-athletes must have a grade point average of 3.00 or above in the preceding academic year or a cumulative grade point average of 3.00; been on a varsity team for two seasons; been a member of the varsity team for the sport’s entire NCAA Championship segment; and have successfully completed 24 semester or 36 quarter hours of academic credit towards a baccalaureate degree.